Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has claimed that at least two world leaders have secretly negotiated with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the past three years.
Vučić, who has not met with Putin since November 2021, stated that while many Western leaders publicly distance themselves from Moscow, some have engaged in undisclosed talks with the Russian president.
"I know of at least two world leaders who have secretly spoken with him," Vučić said adding that he remains informed through contacts in the Kremlin and other countries.
When asked whether Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico were among those leaders, Vučić clarified that he was not referring to them specifically.
Both Orbán and Fico had publicly met with Putin in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Vučić's upcoming visit to Moscow on May 9 for Victory Day celebrations will mark his first in-person meeting with Putin in three and a half years. He emphasized that Serbia remains transparent and true to its commitments, contrasting his approach with the secret diplomacy he claims other leaders have conducted.
Reports have also surfaced about possible covert negotiations between Russia and Germany. The last known conversation between Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took place on November 15, 2024, following a previous call in December 2022. Speculation about backchannel talks between Berlin and Moscow has persisted since mid-2022, with some analysts suggesting that Germany may prioritize maintaining diplomatic space with Russia over fully aligning with Ukraine's interests.